Professional wrestling legend Bob Miller, aka Bushwacker ButchUnfortunately, he passed away. The news was announced by Bushwhacker Luke, longtime tag team partner for Unique Performance. On Facebook, Luke shared some kind words about his close friend and showed off his business partner while offering his condolences to the family. Miller was 78 years old.
“Late last night, I lost my friend, brother, and tag team partner of over 50 years with the passing of Bob ‘Butch’ Miller,” Bushwhacker Luke wrote on Facebook. “My heart goes out to his wife Helen, his beautiful daughters Sharon and Kirsten and all his grandchildren. From the early seventies when we were young mates battling John Da Silva in New Zealand, my first impression of Bob ‘The Chest’ Miller (as he was called in those days) was that he He was a first class redneck, and what a bloody redneck! But he was also a good guy and a great friend.”
Luke goes on to detail the rise of the tag team in the world of professional wrestling, which led to their induction into the WWE Hall of Fame together in 2015 followed by inductions into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020. Any wrestling fan will say that induction was well deserved, as there is no doubt that The Bushwhackers remain among the most beloved and recognizable tag teams in business history.
In recent years, Bushwhacker Luke has been on the convention scene, while Bob “Butch” Miller has been living in New Zealand. Miller flew to the US this past weekend to reunite with Locke for a fan meet, and this has been touted as possibly the last time the Bosch Pirates will be together at a convention. Sadly, this turned out to be true, as Miller fell ill at the end of the weekend.
“We’ve done it all, seen it all, and done it all together,” Luke adds. “This past weekend in Los Angeles, Bob flew in from New Zealand to join me for Wrestlemania weekend and related festivities, and neither of us knew it would be our last days together and the last days of his life. If you were to read the story from my life he would say I’m only a kid, But that would be a mistake. In life I had a brother and his name was Bob Miller. I love you Bob. Until I see you again, WOOOOAHH YEEEEAAHH!”
The history of wrestling loses a legend
The Buccaneers were originally known as New Zealand Kiwis before they became the Shepherds before settling on their more popular name, The Bushwhackers. After performing around the world for decades, they found additional fame on television as a featured team on WWE (then WWF) shows in the 1980s and 1990s. Their last match together was in 2001 on an independent wrestling promotion, where Miller officially retired shortly after due to a neck injury.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Bob “Bushwacker Butch” Miller at this difficult time. May he rest in peace while his memory continues to shine brightly, forever with the love of fans.
